Spring-wheel.



Patented Apr.4, 1911. l

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN SHARP, 0F BEAUMONT, TEXAS.

SPRING-WHEEL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN SHARP, a citizen of the United States, residingat Beaumont, county of Jefferson, and State of Texas, have invented anew and useful Sp1ing-lVhcel, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to vehicle wheels which are equipped with a. solidtire and one of the objects o my invention is to provide a wheel of thecharacter described with a simple form of elastic support.

Another object of my invention is to provide a wheel of the characterdescribed which is simple and economical in construction and which hasits parts so arranged that they are readily accessible for dismounting.

Other objects and advantages will appear as hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly insection, of a wheel embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a section on line2--w2 Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view of the inner face of the hub plate.

1 designates a solid tire of rubber or other similar material seatedwithin a groove formed in a sectional rim 3. Each section 3 of the rim 3is provided with a pin et which projects inwardly therefrom into aperforation 5 in the felly 6. The perforation 5 extends through a roundboss 7 formed on the inner side of the felly 6 and the inner end of theperforation is threaded to receive the threaded outer end of a spoke 8.The inner` end of each spoke 8 is threaded and is freely movableradially in a perforation 9 in the hub 10, the threaded end of the spokebeing engaged by a nut ll held in fixed position in the hub by the wallsof a recess 12 therein. The hub 10 is provided .with a plate 13 screwedto the face of the hub which closes the open side of the recess 12 andhas extensions or lugs lll formed with a recess half the diameter of thespoke for receiving the spoke, the hub being also provided withcorresponding extensions 15 so that each spoke is embraced between anextension 14 and 15, thereby preventing dirt and grit from entering therecesses 9 and 12 in the hub. Within each perforation 5 and between theouter end of each spoke and the corresponding pin 4 on the rim 3 is acoiled compression spring 15, the tension of which may be regulated bychanging the radial position of the spoke 8, a nut 16 being formed onthe spoke 8 for engagement by a suitable wrench or other engaging means.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 21, 1910.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911. Serial No. 550,767.

The spokes are secured in a desired position by means of a jam nut 17which is provided with a sleeve 18 which fits over the boss 7. Each boss7 is provided with an opening 19 through which the spring l5 may beinserted to its proper position between the end of the spoke and theadjacent pin. The sleeve 18 011 the nut 17 is made of sufficient lengthto cover the opening 19 when the jam nut 17 is tightened against the endof the boss 7. The jam nuts 17 are also for the purpose of keeping thefelly 6 in fixed position concentric with the hub. The adjacent ends ofthe sections 3 are supported on the felly 6 by bowed springs 2O whichspan the joint between the sections 3 and have their ends 2l pressingagainst the sect-ions 3. The central or bowed part of each spring 20rests within a recess 22 in the felly 6. To prevent displacement of thesprings 22, each spring is provided with a pin 23 which fits' within aperforation 24 in the felly.

The outer side of the grooved portion of the felly 6 is of less diameterthan the inner side so that the tire and rim sections may be readilyassembled, a circular rim or plate 25 is fastened to the outer side ofthe felly 6 by means of screws or bolts 26. The plate 25 and thecorresponding extension on the felly 6 serve to assist in keeping therim sections and tire in place and to also, to a certain extent, preventdirt from entering between the rim sections and the felly. The plate 25and the corresponding extension on the felly 6 are provided with roundedlips or lugs 27, 28, respectively, which assist in preventing foreignmattei' entering the joint between the adjacent rim sections 3.

Vhat I claim is:

1. A spring wheel for vehicles, comprising a solid tire, a rimsupporting said tire formed in sections, a felly spaced apart from therim and having perforations therein, said felly having recesses on theouter surface thereof, a hub, spokes extensibly mounted in said hub andhaving their outer ends extending into perforations in said felly,coiled springs in said spoke receiving perforations between the ends ofsaid spokes and the rim, and bowed springs seated in the recesses insaid felly and secured thereto intermediate said spokes, said bowedsprings being arranged to span the break between the sections of saidrim and having their ends engaging the ends of the adjacent sections ofsaid rim.

2. A spring wheel for vehicles, comprising a solid tire, a rimsupporting said tire formed in sections, each section having a pinthereon, a telly spaced apart from the rim and having perforationstherein for receiving said pins, a hub having recesses therein, athreaded member in each of said recesses, spokes having their inner endscorrespondingly threaded and radially adjustable in said members, theouter ends of said spokes extending into the perforations in the felly,a coiled spring in each of said perforations between the ends of thespoke and pin therein, and bowed springs on said telly intermediate saidspokes, said springs being interposed between the ends of said rimsections and said telly.

3. A spring wheel for vehicles, comprising a solid tire, a rimsupporting said tire formed in sections, each section of said rim havinga pin thereon, a felly spaced apart from said rim and having bossesextending inwardly therefrom, said felly having perforations thereinthrough said bosses, the pin on each rim section extending into theadjacent perforation in the felly, a hub, spokes adjustably mounted onsaid hub, the outer ends of said spokes extending into the perforationsin said bosses, a coiled spring in each perforation between the ends ofthe spoke and pin therein, said bosses having a transverse openingtherein opening into the perforation therein, and a nut on each of saidspokes against the inner face of the boss and having a hollow extensionover the end of said boss to close said transverse opening.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Beaumont, Texas,this 8th day of March 1910.

JOHN SHARP. In presence of- J. S. WI-IELEss, L. J. CUNNINGHAM.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

